Brush with magnetic filaments

ABSTRACT

A brush with magnetic filaments is described. The brush may be used, for example, as a brush for applying a cosmetic material. The filaments of the brush may, in one example, be made of a synthetic material infused with magnetic material.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/209,187, filed on Aug. 12, 2011 which claimspriority to Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 201110029842.6, filedon Jan. 25, 2011, and Chinese Patent Application Serial No.201010539244.9, filed on Nov. 5, 2010, which are incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Many cultures, including those in Egypt, China, Persia, and Europe, usedmagnets in one form or another to treat ailments, disorders and wounds.The basic theory behind magnetic therapy is that the force of thepositively charged particles is able to influence the molecules in thebody without touching them.

Magnetic therapy continues to be practiced by a large segment of thepopulation today. As noted above, magnetic therapy treatment istypically used to treat ailments and not as part of a daily routine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Detailed Description is set forth with reference to the accompanyingfigures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference numberidentifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Theuse of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similaror identical items.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example brush having magneticfilaments including a permanent magnetic material.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another example brush having magneticfilaments that are magnetized at least in part by an electromagnet.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example filament infusedwith magnetic material.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example filament coatedwith magnetic material.

FIG. 5 is an example process of preparing magnetic synthetic filaments.

FIG. 6 is an example process of preparing a magnetic brush havingmagnetic filaments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

As noted above, magnetic therapy treatment is typically used to treatailments and not as part of a daily routine. This disclosure describes abrush having magnetic filaments or fibers that can be used, not only formagnetic therapy, but also as part of a user's daily routine. Throughoutthe application, embodiments are described in terms of brushes havingfilaments. However, in some embodiments, brushes may be formed usingother types of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The term “fiber” is usedherein to encompass synthetic magnetic filaments and other types ofnatural and/or synthetic fibers. The brush may be used, for example, toapply a cosmetic material. The brush may, but need not, be used inconnection with a cosmetic product containing magnetic particles (e.g.,magnetized minerals that are incorporated into product as aningredient). While the application describes the fibers for use in acosmetic brush, magnetic fibers according to this application are usablein other applications such as, for example, mascara brush, toothbrushes,hair brushes, etc.

The application further describes methods and processes formanufacturing magnetic filaments usable to make brushes and otherproducts employing filaments.

The magnetic fibers provide a static or permanent magnet, which isthought to aid in circulation, while the magnetized particles in thecosmetic product (if used) are thought to help remove toxins, decreaseinflammation, and reactivate pro-collagen synthesis to add backelasticity and suppleness in mature skin.

Thus, by using the brush with magnetic fibers described herein, usersare able to achieve the benefits of magnetic therapy as part of theirdaily routine. Moreover, users needn't even buy products with magnetizedingredients to receive benefits of magnetic therapy. Rather, users maysimply use the magnetic brush with the skincare or cosmetic productsthey already have to get the results of magnetic therapy.

Generally, brushes according to this application include magneticfibers. The fibers may comprise synthetic filaments or natural fibers.The fibers may be coated with a magnetic material and, in the case ofsynthetic filaments, may additionally or alternatively be infused orimpregnated with magnetic material.

Examples of natural fibers that could be used include, withoutlimitation, any supple fibers such as hair, cellulose fibers, cotton,hemp, flax, or the like.

Examples of synthetic materials that may be used to form the filamentsinclude, without limitation, taklon, nylon, Polybutylene Terephthalate(PBT), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), polyester and/or Polypropylene(PP).

Examples of magnetic materials that may be used include permanentmagnetic materials such as strontium ferrite, barium ferrite, magnetiteand/or hematite. The magnetic materials may be in powder form orgranular form, for example. The magnetic materials may be applied to thefibers using an adhesive or bonding process and/or, in the case ofsynthetic materials, may be added to the synthetic resin prior toextrusion, sintering, or other forming process.

In another example, the brush may comprise fibers including a ferrous,copper, or other conductive material, and the magnetic character of thefibers may be imparted, at least in part, by an electromagnet or apermanent magnet housed in a ferrule and/or handle of the brush andconfigured to induce a magnetic field in the fibers of the brush. Insuch an example, the ferrule and/or handle of the brush may be at leastpartially formed of a ferromagnetic material capable of transferringelectricity and/or magnetism from the electromagnet and/or permanentmagnet to the fibers of the brush. In some examples the fibers may bemagnetized by being coated and/or infused with a magnetic material, aswell as by an electromagnet or permanent magnet in the ferrule or handleof the brush.

By way of example, synthetic filaments used for magnetic fibers mayinclude greater than or equal to 80%, but less than 100%, of syntheticmaterials such as PBT resin and/or PET resin, and less than or equal to20% of magnetic or conductive materials. As noted above, the magneticmaterials may include strontium ferrite, barium ferrite, magnetiteand/or hematite. In one example, synthetic filaments may include betweenabout 5% and about 15% of strontium ferrite. In one specific example,the synthetic filaments may include about 5% strontium ferrite. Theamount of strontium ferrite or other magnetic material may be variedbased on the desired strength of magnetic field to be generated by thefilament. All of the foregoing percentages are by weight of material.

In one example, magnetic fibers of a brush may have a diameter ofbetween about 0.05 mm and about 0.25 mm. In some examples, magneticfibers of a cosmetic brush may have a diameter of between about 0.05 mmand about 0.075 mm. However, in other examples, fibers may have othergreater or smaller diameters.

In still other examples, a sponge, foam, flocking, or other type ofapplicator may be coated and/or infused with magnetic material, ratherthan a brush.

The magnetic material may be coated or infused in natural or syntheticfibers, or other types of applicators using a variety of techniques. Forexample, in the case of synthetic fibers, the synthetic fibers may beformed using a magnetic resin mixture including both synthetic resin andmagnetic material. In other examples, natural fibers, synthetic fibers,and/or other applicators may be coated or infused with magneticmaterials by dipping the applicator in a liquid solution containing themagnetic material, soaking the applicator in a solution containing themagnetic material, spraying the magnetic material onto the applicator,applying the magnetic material to the applicator using a vapordeposition process, or the like. In still other examples, the magneticmaterial may be adhered to the applicator using an adhesive or binder.

Example Embodiments

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example brush 100 having a handle102 and magnetic fibers 104 including a permanent magnetic material,such as those described above. As noted above, the magnetic material maybe coated on and/or impregnated in the fibers of the brush.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another example brush 200 havingmagnetic fibers 202 that are magnetized at least in part by anelectromagnet 204 disposed in a handle, ferrule, or other portion of thebrush 200. In this example, the fibers are coated with and/orimpregnated/infused with a conductive material, such as those describedabove. Additionally or alternatively, the brush 200 may include apermanent magnet or ferromagnetic plate 206 disposed in the handle,ferrule, or other portion of the brush. In some embodiments, the plate206 may be disk shaped and may be coupled to the electromagnet (ifprovided). In one specific example, the plate 206 may comprise a metalplate to distribute magnetic flux evenly from the electromagnet. In analternative specific example, the plate 206 may comprise a permanentmagnet, a magnetized metal plate, or a magnetized synthetic plate madeof a synthetic material such as any of those described herein for themanufacture of the magnetic filaments and may be arranged to applymagnetic flux evenly from the plate 206 to the fibers 202. Thus, theplate 206 may enhance or supplement a magnetic charge of the fibers 202.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example fiber 300 infusedwith magnetic material 302. In this example, the fiber 300 is shown as asynthetic filament, which may be infused with magnetic material 302according to the example process described with reference to FIG. 5below.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example fiber 400 coatedwith magnetic material 402. In this example, the fiber 400 is shown as anatural fiber, which may be coated or infused with the magnetic materialby, for example, applying an adhesive or binder to the fiber, applying amagnetic material to the coated fiber, and curing the adhesive or binderto hold the magnetic material in place. However, as discussed above, inother examples, fibers and other applicators may be coated and/orimpregnated with magnetic materials using other processes as well.

FIG. 5 is an example process 500 of preparing a magnetic syntheticfilament. At block S502, synthetic material such as PBT granules areprepared (hereinafter, “PBT granules”). These PBT granules may includenylon or other synthetic materials. Further, in other examples, othersynthetic resins may be used, such as those described above. At blockS504, magnetic material or conductive material such as strontium ferriteis ground into powder or granules. A grinding machine having agranularity of, for example, 800 micrometers or more may be used togrind the strontium ferrite or other magnetic material. At block S506,ground strontium ferrite (e.g., 20% by weight of strontium ferrite) orother magnetic material is evenly mixed with the prepared PBT granulesto produce a magnetic resin mixture.

The amount of strontium ferrite may be varied, and can be adjustedaccordingly based on the desired magnitude of magnetic strength. In oneexample, the amount of strontium ferrite may be less than or equal to20%. Optionally, at block S508, the magnetic resin mixture may beadjusted by adding additional strontium ferrite powder (block S510) toform a magnetic resin mixture having higher strontium ferrite contentand/or by adding additional resin (block S512) to obtain a magneticresin mixture having higher resin content. Generally, higher relativestrontium ferrite powder content will increase the magnetic character ofthe filaments. Conversely, higher relative resin content will producefilaments having increased elasticity and suppleness.

At block S514, magnetic resin mixture may be used to produce magneticsynthetic filaments. The synthetic filaments may be formed, for example,by extrusion. In one aspect, magnetic synthetic filaments produced usingmerely the magnetic resin mixture prepared at block S506 may berelatively rigid, whereas filaments prepared with a magnetic resinmixture prepared according to block S512 tend to be relativelyelastomeric and supple.

Upon forming the synthetic filaments through the above blocks, thesynthetic filaments may be stimulated (e.g., by applying a magneticfield to the filaments) in order to magnetize the synthetic filaments atblock S516. The strength of the magnetic field and the duration ofexposure to the magnetic field will determine the magnitude of magneticcharge imparted to the synthetic filaments. In one example, thefilaments may be exposed to a magnetic field having a field strength ofabout 5 to about 10 Gauss. In one embodiment, the filaments may beexposed to the magnetic field for about 3 seconds. The length ofexposure of the filaments to a magnetic field may be increased ordecreased depending on, for example, an amount of magnetic material inthe filament, a diameter of the filament, and/or a desired magneticcharacter of the filaments.

As discussed above, the proportions of the materials for producing thesynthetic filaments may be adjusted differently to achieve differentelasticity and suppleness of the filaments. The rigidity or stiffness ofthe filaments may also be adjusted by varying the proportions of thematerials. Thus, significant control may be placed on the degree ofsuppleness and the magnitude of magnetic strength of the filaments.

In one example, the synthetic filaments produced according to the aboveprocess include PBT resin and strontium ferrite in amounts within theranges for those materials set forth above.

FIG. 6 is an example process 600 of preparing a magnetic brush usingmagnetic fibers, such as the synthetic filaments made by the process500. As shown in FIG. 6, at block S602, filament tipping may bepreformed on filaments formed according to block S514 or S516 accordingto conventional “filament tipping” techniques to produce syntheticfilaments having suitable filament tips.

At block S604, a brush, such as brush 100 or 200, is produced bycoupling the synthetic filaments having the tips to a brush handle. Thefilaments may be coupled to the handle by, for example, a ferrule. Ifthe filaments are not magnetized prior to coupling to the brush, theymay be stimulated, at S606, by applying a magnetic field to thesynthetic filaments in order to cause filaments of the brush to possessa magnetic character. As a result, a magnetic brush is produced.

The synthetic filaments and brushes of the present disclosure havemagnetic character. When used, blood circulation of a human body may bepromoted due to its magnetic character. The effects of the brush may befurther enhanced by inclusion of a permanent magnet or an electromagnetin a ferrule or handle of the brush.

CONCLUSION

Although the disclosure uses language specific to structural featuresand/or methodological acts, the embodiments are not limited to thespecific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features andacts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing theembodiments.

Furthermore, the order in which the methods are described is notintended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of thedescribed method blocks can be combined in any order to implement themethods, or alternate methods. Additionally, individual blocks may bedeleted from the methods without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe subject matter described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic brush for simultaneously applying askincare product and magnetic therapy comprising: a handle; a magnetdisposed in the handle; a cosmetic applicator coupled to an end of thehandle, the cosmetic applicator including a plurality of elastomericfibers including a polymer resin and a magnetic material; and a magneticmetal plate coupled to the magnet and interposed between the magnet andthe plurality of fibers.
 2. The cosmetic brush of claim 1, wherein amagnetic flux from the magnet supplements a magnetic character providedby the magnetic material of the plurality of fibers.
 3. The cosmeticbrush of claim 1, wherein the magnetic metal plate distributes amagnetic flux evenly from the magnet into the plurality of fibers. 4.The cosmetic brush of claim 1, wherein the magnet is fixedly disposedwithin the handle.
 5. The cosmetic brush of claim 1, wherein theelastomeric fibers comprise taklon, nylon, Polybutylene Terephthalate(PBT), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), polyester and/or Polypropylene(PP).
 6. The cosmetic brush of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric fiberscomprise greater than or equal to 80% but less than 100% of PolybutyleneTerephthalate (PBT), and less than or equal to 20% of strontium ferriteby weight, and wherein the elastomeric fibers comprise a diameter ofbetween about 0.05 mm and about 0.25 mm.
 7. The cosmetic brush of claim1, wherein the magnetic material comprises magnetic powder.
 8. Thecosmetic brush of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material comprisesmagnetic granules.
 9. The cosmetic brush of claim 1, wherein themagnetic material comprises strontium ferrite, magnetite, and/orhematite.
 10. The cosmetic brush of claim 1, wherein the magnetcomprises a permanent magnetic material.
 11. The cosmetic brush of claim1, wherein the magnet comprises an electromagnet.
 12. The cosmetic brushof claim 1, wherein the magnetic metal plate is a permanent magnet. 13.A cosmetic brush for simultaneously applying a skincare product andmagnetic therapy comprising: an elongate handle having first and secondends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; a cosmeticapplicator coupled to the first end of the handle and extendingsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the cosmetic applicatorcomprising a plurality of supple natural or synthetic fibers coated inor infused with a permanently magnetic material; and a magnet disposedin the handle; wherein the cosmetic applicator has a magnetic charactercomprising first and second magnetic fields, wherein the second magneticfield supplements the first magnetic field.
 14. The cosmetic brush ofclaim 13, wherein the first magnetic field is provided by thepermanently magnetic material, and the second magnetic field is providedby the magnet.
 15. The cosmetic brush of claim 13, wherein the magnetdistributes a magnetic flux into the plurality of fibers.
 16. Thecosmetic brush of claim 15, further comprising a magnetic plate disposedbetween the magnet and the plurality of supple natural or syntheticfibers to evenly distribute the magnetic flux of the magnet into theplurality of supple natural or synthetic fibers.
 17. A cosmetic brushfor simultaneously applying a skincare product and magnetic therapycomprising: a handle; a cosmetic applicator coupled to an end of thehandle, the cosmetic applicator comprising a plurality of supple naturalfibers coated in or infused with a magnetic material providing thecosmetic brush with a first magnetic field; and a magnet disposed in thehandle providing the cosmetic brush with a second magnetic field;wherein the second magnetic field supplements the first magnetic field.18. The cosmetic brush of claim 17, wherein the supple natural fiberscomprise hair, cellulose fibers, cotton, hemp or flax.
 19. The cosmeticbrush of claim 17, further comprising a magnetic plate disposed betweenthe magnet and the cosmetic applicator, the magnetic plate configured toevenly distribute the second magnetic field of the magnet onto the firstmagnetic field of the plurality of fibers.
 20. The cosmetic brush ofclaim 17, wherein the magnetic material is a permanently magneticmaterial.